The University of Maryland Department of Athletics mourns the loss of Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame member and former track and field student-athlete Paula Girven-Pittman, who passed away peacefully after a battle with cancer at the age of 62 on October 17.

Girven was a two-time NCAA champion in the high jump for Maryland, winning the indoor and outdoor championships in 1976. She was inducted into the Maryland Athletics Hall of Fame class of 1999. Girven's program records in the high jump (6'2") and 55 meter hurdles (7.97) still stand in the Maryland record books.

A member of the 1976 and 1980 United States Olympic teams, Girven was one of the first African-American women to receive an athletic scholarship at Maryland, graduating with a Bachelor of General Studies in 1981. Girven was a leader in the student-athlete community while at the University of Maryland, helping to solidify the women's track program and became the first of many talented female African-American athletes to accept scholarship offers. 



"Paula was the very first athlete that I recruited when I got here," said former Head Coach Frank Costello of the late Girven. "She was a phenomenal athlete in high school, the first female to ever jump six feet, even then we knew she was incredible."

Girven continued her joy of movement and fitness, serving as a master personal trainer with Samantha Taylor Fitness in Tampa, Florida from 2015-2019.


She is survived by daughters, Jasmin Pittman Morrell and Summer Segura; former spouse Craig Pittman; sisters, Janis Girven and Marcia Green; and grandchildren, Jubilee, Madison, Adolfo, Nova, and Karsyn.

"In addition to her athletic success, the Olympics, magazine covers, National honors, Paula had a beautiful personality. She was such a great ambassador for the sport and the school," said Costello. "She opened the door for countless women in the NCAA and at the university of Maryland."

More info: Paula Girven Obituary